Wire winding and unwinding attachment for tractors



Oct. 21, 1958 v G. HENDRIX 2,857,117 WIRE WINDING AND uuwmomc ATTACHMENTFOR RAcToRs Filed Aug. 12, 1957.

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United States Patent WIRE WINDING AND UNWINDING ATTACH- MENT FORTRACTORS Gaylord Hendrix, Piatt County, Ill.

Application August 12, 1957, Serial No. 677,740

3 Claims. (Cl. 242-865) This invention relates to a wire winding andunwinding attachment for tractors.

The invention is more particularly concerned with and improved wirewinding and unwinding reel structure which is adapted for detachableconnection with a standard belt pulley on a tractor.

Both plain and barbed wire are extensively used on farms for fencing,which may be permanent or only temporary. In either case, the wire mustbe unrolled about the desired fence lines and in the case of temporaryfencing the wire must be rerolled.

Prior art structures for the above noted purpose were unduly complex andrequired a considerable period of time for mounting same on a tractor.Furthermore, such prior structures due to their relative complexity wereexpensive and not within the means of all persons having use therefor.

It is accordingly 3. primary object of this invention to provide a wirewinding and unwinding reel structure which is of maximum simplicity andwhich is capable of manufacture at relatively low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire winding andunwinding reel structure which is adapted for removable connection withbelt pulleys on tractors even though such pulleys vary to some degreeinconstruction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tion C and abase B and the pulley is normally secured to a circular flange F on theendof a drive member D by means of a plurality of bolts b which extendwire winding and unwinding reel structure for removable connection witha belt pulley on a tractor, and wherein the wire supporting reel iscapable of friction resisted rotation relative to the belt pulley undera predetermined wire winding load, thereby avoiding breaking of thewire.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wire winding andunwinding reel structure which is capable of attachment to a tractor andbelt pulley through the manipulation of a single bolt which isaccessi-ble from the outer exposed face of the reel.

-Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent inthe course of the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. l is a side elevational viewof a standard tractor shown in dot-and-dash lines and the reel structureaccording to the present invention is shown in full lines in operativeassociation with the tractor.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the standard belt pulley on atractor and wherein the improved reel structure is shown in operativeassociation therewith.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the improved reel structure.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the improved reel structure.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, a standard tractor is designatedT and the improved reel structure S is shown mounted on the tractor beltpulley P.

As is indicated in Fig. 2, the standard cup-form belt pulley P used ontractors includes a cylindrical wall porthrough axially alignedapertures in the flange F and the pulley base B.

The improved reel structure S in accordance with a preferred structuralembodiment thereof comprises a circular plate 10 which is provided witha central aperture 11 and a circumferential series of apertures 12 whichare alignable with the apertures in the flange F and the pulley base Bfor reasons later to appear.

A nut 13 is welded to the outer face of plate 10 with its threadedaperture axially aligned with the central aperture 11 in the plate as isshown in Fig. 2.

The reel structure further comprises a reel proper which includes a pairof axially spaced disks 14 which are interconnected by a tubular hub 15.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the disks 14 are dished with the convex facesdisposed inwardly thereby providing a guiding action on wire enteringthe reel. The innermost of the two disks 14 is provided with a pluralityof reel positioning brackets 16, each of which is of right angular formincluding a leg 17 and a leg 18.

The-legs 17 extend parallel with the axis of the disks 174 while thelegs 18 are disposed radially thereof. Each leg 18 is provided with anelongated slot 19 through which extend a pair of bolts 20 whose headends are preferably countersunk in the inner disk in flush relation withthe inner convex wall thereof and the inner ends of the bolts areprovided with nuts 21.

From the above, it will be apparent that the brackets 16 are radiallyadjustable whereby the reel is capable of being accurately positionedrelative to the pulley P and the brackets further provide for use of thereel with pulleys of varying diameters.

A relatively long bolt 22 extends loosely through the hub 15 and has theinner end thereof threaded through the fixed nut 13, as is indicated inFig. 2.

The disks 14 are apertured for passage of the bolt and the other end ofthe bolt is provided with an integralvhead 23 which bears upon one ormore washers 24 through which the bolt extends.

In order to attach the improved reel structure S to a standard tractorbelt pulley P, it is necessary only to remove the standard pulleysecuring bolts 12 and position the plate 10 on the inner face of thebase B of the pm ley with the apertures 12 in the plate aligned with thebolts receiving apertures in the flange F and the pulley P andthereafter replace the bolts b with a resulting connection of the plate10 to the base B of the pulley P.

The disk reel is then moved axially toward the open end of the pulley Pwith the legs 17 of the positioning brackets 16 engaging the innercylindrical wall of the pulley. Simultaneous with the above movements,the end of bolt 22 will enter nut 13 and it is then only necessary toengage the bolt head 22 with a wrench and impart rotation to the boltwith a resulting engagement of the inner disk 14 with the open end ofthe pulley P.

An important feature of the invention is the use of a single bolt 22disposed axially of the reel and while the bolt is threaded into thefixed nut 13, the disks 14 are retained by friction only for rotationwith the pulley P. However, the bolt 22 should be drawn up sufficientlyfor rotation of the disks with the pulley under a wire winding load, andthe connection makes provision for slipping of the reel relative to thepulley under a load which otherwise may break the wire.

In use, the reel turns at the same rate as the pulley P. The pulleyspeed is controllef by the operator of the tractor and the speed can beincreased or decreased by the throttle of the tractor, or if necessaryby the clutch.

3 1 The operator sits above the reel, as is apparent from Fig. 1; so hemay watch the winding of the wire and stop the rotation of the reel ifthe wire becomes knotted or carries an impediment, 6r for any otherreason the reel fai listo prfoperly wirfd. 4 Wlie reel is not r iiiireditmay be removed by unscrewing the bolt 22 only and leaving the 'plate10 in position which operation can be carried out in a very short periodof time. 7 W Y v a l Shouldthe reel structure be appli'e'd to a tractorbelt pulley having an internal diameter. different from that shown,itiis necessary only to adjust the positioning brackets 16'radially ofthe inner disk. h v

Having set forth my invention in accordance withfa preferred structuralembodiment thereof, what I claim and desire 'to secure by U. 5. LettersPatent is:

1. A wire winding reel structure for removable connection with anoutwardly opening cup-form pulley including a cylindrical wall and abase operatively connected to a'fiange on a drivemember by bolts;Comprising a pair of axially spaced disks and an intervening hubproviding a circumferential space for receiving a body of wound wire,one of said disks being engageable with the outer free edge of saidpulley and provided with a plurality 'of positioning brackets includinglegs engageable with the inner wall of said pulley, and means includingan elongated bolt extending axially through said hub and adapted toextend axially within said cylindrical wall of said pulley and whoseinner end is adapted for connection to said pulley base and said flangeby said bolts.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said brackets are supportedby said one of said disks for adjustment radially thereof for engagementof said legs with the inner Walls of pulleys of different diameters.

3. A wire winding reel structure for removable connection with anoutwardly opening cup-form pulley, including'a cylindrical wall and abase operatively connected to a flange on a drive member by bolts;comprising a pair of axially spaced disks and an intervening hubproviding 'a circumferential space for receiving a body of wound wire,"one of said disks being engageable with the outer free edge of saidpulley, a plate engageable with the inner wall of said pulley base andhaving apertures for receiving said bolts, a nut rigid with said plateand an elongated bolt extending from said nut axially Withinsaidcylindrical wall of said pulley and said hub and having ahead engagedwith the other of said disks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,309,367 Phillips July 8, 1919 1,564,985 Stomberg Dec. s, 19252,309,539 Roehrl Ian. 26, 1943 2,510,394 Fo ng June 6, 195!) 2,709,051Bunch May 24, 1955

